The Bible: Source for the writing of the Constitution

The Bible is not only the most published book in history, it is quoted by major sources continually. Many of our early statesmen regarded the Bible highly. The Bible was a major sourcebook for the writing of our Constitution. In The Origins of American Constitutionalism by Donald Lutz, Lutz and colleague Charles Hynman (both Political Science researchers from the University of Houston) summarize their analysis of 15,000 items of American political commentary published between 1760 and 1805. They demonstrated that the Bible was the most frequently quoted source between 1760 and 1805, and concluded that future research on the development of American political thought should include increased attention to "biblical and common law sources"

Quotes concerning the moral authority of the Bible as pertinent to our nation.

"A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district - all studied and appreciated as they merit - are the principle support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty." Benjamin Franklin

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.
It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." George Washington

"The Bible is the rock on which our Republic rests." Andrew Jackson

"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering." Daniel Webster

"The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scripture ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evil men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible." Noah Webster

"A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education." Theodore Roosevelt

The Bible is considered to be accurate and of historical value

Nelson Glueck, a specialist in ancient literature, said: "It can be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference."

Bible scholar Donald J. Wiseman said, "The geography of Bible lands and visible remains of antiquity were gradually recorded until today more than 25,000 sites within this region and dating to Old Testament times, in their broadest sense, have been located...." (25,000 sites!)

Well-known Bible scholar William F. Albright said: "Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased recognition of the value of the Bible as a source of history." Archeological studies have been a true friend to the Christian Bible.

Menahem Mansoor, a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says: "Biblical archaeology's greatest significance is that it has corroborated many historical records in the Bible."

From a statement by the Smithsonian Institute: "In short, it is impossible to verify the actual events recorded in the Biblical account of the flood. On the other hand, much of the Bible, in particular the historical books of the old testament, are as accurate historical documents as any that we have from antiquity and are in fact more accurate than many of the Egyptian, Mesopotamian, or Greek histories. These Biblical records can be and are used as are other ancient documents in archeological work. For the most part, historical events described took place and the peoples cited really existed."

Other quotes of note

"The Bible is literature, not dogma." George Santayana

"The Bible has been the Magna Carta of the poor and of the oppressed." Thomas H. Huxley

"The English Bible - a book which, if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of its beauty and power." Thomas B. Macaulay

"In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength." Robert E. Lee